Screw-driver for securing insulators in place.



No. 685,606. Patented Oct. 29, I9UI.

A. HENRY.

SCREW DRIVER F-OR SECURING INSULATURS IN PLACE.

l'Application filed May 23, 1901.)

(No Model.)

AIo

'site' a ARCI-IIE HENRY, OF MEADVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

SCREW-DRIVER FOR SECURING INSULATORS IN PLACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 685,606, dated October29, 1901.

Application filed May 23, 1901. Serial No. 61,659. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, ARCHIE HENRY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Meadville, in the county of Crawford and State of Pennsylvania,have invented new and useful Improvements in Screw-Drivers for SecuringInsulators in Place, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved screwdriver for securinginsulators 'in place, and has for its object to provide in a single,simple, and inexpensive implement a screwdriver and means for holdingthe insulator in position while the screw is being driven in the supportto which the insulator is to be attached.

To this end my invention consists in the features and in theconstruction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafterdescribed, and particularly pointed out in the claims following thedescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification, wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective View ofmy improved implement. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View of the same,and Fig. 3 is a View showing the implementin position for securing theinsulator in place.

My improved implement is primarily intended for the use of thoseemployed in Wiring electric telephones and other electric instrumentsand is especially designed for securing in place the porcelaininsulator-knobs employed for supporting the Wires, the purpose being toprovide a simple, inexpensive, and efficient implement by means of whichthe insulator may be conveniently held in place while being fastened toits support and the screw employed for fastening it in place may bedriven with ease.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates an insulator ofordinary construction and consisting of a porcelain knob provided with acircumferential groove 2 for the reception of the wire conductor, asusual, and 3 the screw employed for fastening the insulator to itssupport 4, which may be a wall, ceiling, the woodwork of a building, orthe like.

The implement designed for holding the insulator 1 in position while thescrew 3 is being driven into the support 4 and for driving the screwinto the support comprises a shank or body 5, provided at one end withtwo fixed rigid jaws 6, that curveoutward from the shank in oppositedirections to straddle the head of the insulator and then curve inwardtoward each other to engage the circumferential groove in the insulator.The opposite end of the shank or body 5 is provided with two arms 7,that project at right angles to the shank in opposite directions to forma handle that may be readily grasped in one hand by the operator. Formedlongitudinally in and passing centrally through the shank or body of theimplement is a perforation or round passage 8, and extending fromopposite sides of said perforation 0r passage are longitudinal grooves9, that extend from the lower end of the shank to a point intermediatethe lower and upper ends thereof. The numeral lO indicates thescrew-driver, which consists of a flat blade sharpened at one end, asusual, but is relatively short, being approximately the length of thegrooves9 or but slightly longer. The Ascrewdriver is loosely fitted inthe grooves 9 and is freely movable lengthwise therein, but manifestlycannot turn independently of the shank or body and its handle. Thescrew-driver at its upper end terminates in a threaded t-ang 11, thatloosely passes through the perforation or passage 8 in the body of theimplement. The tang 11 may be formed integrally with the blade of thescrew-driver, or it may be fastened thereto in any suitable manner. Inthe present instance the lower end of the tang is forked or slotted, andthe upper end of the screw-driver blade is fitted in said slotted orforked end and is riveted rigidly in place therein. A transverse slot orrecess 12 is formed in the upper portion of the body or shank of theimplement, and rotatably arranged therein is a milled nut 13. Thethreaded tang 11 passes through a threaded aperture 14, formedcentrally'in the nut, andthe periphery of the nut projects beyond theopposite sides of the body or shank of the irnplementinpositiontobeconvenientlygrasped by the fingers.

By turning the nut 13 in one direction the screw-driver is retractedwithin the body or IOC shank of the implement, for, as before del turnedin the proper direction it operates to move the tang lengthwise in itspassage and retract the screw-driver. After the screwdriver has beenretracted in the manner described the jaws G may be slipped laterallyover the head of the insulator, the screw 3 having iirst been slipped inplace therein, after which the nut is turned in the proper direction toforce the end of the screw-driver down into engagement with the nick inthe head ot' the screw. W'hen the parts are in this position, theimplement and insulator are loosely clamped together, the jawspreventing the insulator from being removed or dropping endwise from theimplement and the engagement of the screw-driver with the head of thescrew preventing the insulator from moving laterally from between thejaws. In other words, when the parts are iu the position referred to theimplement and insulator are inseparable. To secure the insulator inplace, the operator grasps the handle 7 in one hand and places the pointof the screw on the spot on the support where the screw is to be driven.Then by pressing upon the implement and at the same time turning it byits handle the screw is driven or screwed into the support. Usually theinsulator will turn with the screw until the latter has been almostcompletely driven to its seat, when the frictional contact between theinsulator and its support will prevent the latter from turning, and thenthe jaws will freely revolve about the head of the insulator, butwillcontinue to hold the screw-driver in engagement with the head of thescrew. Should, however, the screw-driver have been forced so tightlyagainst the head of the screw by the nut that the jaws will not revolvefreely about the head of the insulator, just before giving the finalturns to the screw the nut may be partially turned to slightly loosenthe engagement between the jaws and the insulator-head, when the screwmay be freely driven entirely to its seat. After the insulator has beenscrewed into place in the manner described the nut is loosened toretract the screw-driver, when the implement can be readily removed.

In manipulating the improved implement the operator need use only onehand, leaving the other hand free for supporting himself or forperforming other duties, and this is especially desirable in afiixingthe insulators to the under sides of cross-ari s on poles and on otherelevated structures and in securing the insulators to ceilings and thelike. As shown, the body or shank of the implement, the handle, and thejaws are made in one integral piece and are preferably of malleableiron, while the screw-driver in practice is made of tempered steel.

I-Iaving described my invention, what I claim isl. In an implement ofthe character described, the combination with the body of the implementprovided with two jaws adapted to grasp the head of an insulator, of ascrewdriver carried by said body centrally between the jaws, means foradj Listing the screw-driver toward and from the ends of the jaws, meansfor preventing the screw-driver from turning independently of the bodyof the implement and jaws, and a fixed handle on the body of theimplement for turning the latter and the screw-driver, substantially asdescribed.

2. In an implement of the character described, the combination with thebody or shank of the implement provided at one end with two integralrigid jaws curved to grasp the head of an insulator and provided at itsopposite end with an integral handle, of a screw-driver movably iittedin the body or shank centrally between the jaws, and means for adjustingthe screw-driver toward and from the ends ot' the jaws, substantially asdescribed.

In an implement of the character described, the combination with thebody or shank of the implement provided at one end with two rigidl jawscurved to grasp the head of an insulator, said `body or shank having alongitudinal passage formed centrally therein and having twooppositely-disposed slots formed in the sides of the passage, ascrewdriver movably litted in said slots and passage and provided with athreaded tang movable in the passage, and a nut carried by said body orshank and engaging said tang to adjust the screw-driver toward .and fromthe ends of the jaws, substantially as described.

In an implement ot the character described, the combination with thebody or shank of the implement provided at one end with two rigid jawscurved to grasp the head of an insulator, said body or shank having alongitudinal passage formed cent-rally therein and having two slotsformed in the sides of the passage, a screw-driver movably iitted insaid slots and passage and provided with a threaded tang movable in thepassage, and a nut loosely fitted in a transverse slot in the body orshank and engaging said tang to adjust the screw-driver toward and fromthe ends of the jaws, substantially as described.`

5. In an implement of the class described, the combination with the bodyor shank of the implement provided at one end with two integral rigidjaws curved to grasp the head of an insulator and provided at itsopposite end with two rigid arms that project at right angles to theshank in opposite directions to form a handle, of a screw-driver movablyfitted in the body or shank centrally between the jaws, and means foradjusting the screwdriver toward and from the ends of the jaws,substantially as described.

In test-imony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

f ARCI-IIE HENRY.

`Witnessesz S. J. MAGKAY, GEO. Knrarnrok.

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